It can be a big commitment when you decide to get a pet turtle. However, turtles make excellent pets and compared to other pets they usually don’t require as much work. There are several subspecies of turtles, each with its own requirements. One of the most common type of pet turtles is the box turtle. This article will cover the best types of box turtles for pets.
Before I give you a list of all the recommended box turtles, let me first explain why box turtles are an excellent choise for a pet.
Are box turtles good pets?
Yes, box turtles are very good pets. They are easy to handle, low maintenance, good size and are a very harmless species.
Easy to handle
Box turtles prefer solitude, but that doesn’t mean they’re not sociable. They can actually be very playful and friendly. Box turtles are small and easy to handle, and they eat a simple diet.
Low maintenance
One of the most time consuming aspects of owning a turtle is keeping the water in the tank clean. Since box turtles don’t usually swim, you don’t need a lot of water in your tank. That being said, you should still have a small pool of water that your box turtle can soak in when it gets hot.
Good size
Box turtles are not as long as most other turtles and tortoises. A box turtle can grow up to 6 inches long in 4 to 6 years. Its typical length ranges from 4 to 8 inches, with slightly larger female subspecies than male subspecies. While bigger turtles like red-eared sliders are cool, they require much bigger tanks.
Harmless
Several reptiles carry Salmonella germs, but the box turtle is not one of them. They can, however, be asymptomatic carriers. You don’t need to be concerned that box turtles are dangerous because they can spread germs. But, to be safe, remember to wash your hands after touching a box turtle.
Box turtles also rarely bite their owners.
Best Box Turtles for Pets
The best box turtles for pets are the eastern box turtle, three-toed box turtle, Florida box turtle, and the gulf coast box turtle.
1. Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern box turtles are inexpensive and simple to maintain. In my opinion, eastern box turtles have the prettiest shells. It has a dark brown carapace patterned with numerous splotches ranging from yellow to red, making it a popular beginner’s pet. The plastron could be a single color or tan and black.
Eastern box turtles range in length from 4.5 to 6 inches. They prefer a humid woodland setting and can live for 40 to 100 years.
2. Three-Toed Box Turtle
The dome of a three-toed box turtle is slightly taller than an eastern box turtle, but it is longer and thinner. It comes in a wide range of colors, from olive to yellowish-brown to brown with spots or lines. A three-toed box turtle can grow to be 4 to 6.5 inches long. The good news is that three-toed box turtles are relatively inexpensive.
This type of box turtle prefers environments with plenty of humidity, hiding places, and food sources. From Arkansas to Kansas and from western Georgia to northwest Texas, these subspecies can be found throughout the Central and Southern United States. It has a lifespan of about 20 to 30 years. They can, however, live for 50 years or longer if properly cared for.
3. Florida Box Turtle
A florida box turtle can reach a maximum size of 4 to 6 inches. It features a golden starburst design on its dark brown carapace. It has the appearance of a sophisticated box turtle. Damp woodlands, swamps, and marshes are ideal habitats for this species. A Florida box turtle can live for up to 50 years if properly cared for.
When they are young, Florida Box turtles like to live in tanks/terrariums that have a lot of leaf covers. Therefore, I definitely recommend adding some live plants to its habitat.
4. Gulf Coast Box Turtle
The carapace of a gulf coast box turtle is spherical. The plastron has a solid color and sometimes has a lot of spots. A gulf coast box turtle is typically 6.5 to 7 inches long. The largest gulf coast box turtle was 8.5 inches long. They can be found from eastern Texas to western Florida. They like swampy areas and will even dip their toes in the water. The gulf coast box turtle can live for over 75 years if properly cared for.
Ornate box turtle as a pet
Ornate box turtles are also a great option for a pet turtle. While they are beautiful creatures, I usually don’t recommend them to first time turtle owners since they require a little more work. This is mainly because it is best to keep them in outdoor enclosures versus indoors. Since they are good climbers, it is important that you have a high outdoor enclosure that they can’t climb.
What do you feed a pet box turtle?
When caring for a box turtle, we should be familiar with its diet. Captive box turtles can be fed a diet of 50 percent mixed fresh vegetables with some fruit and 50 percent low-fat protein, such as commercial turtle pellets. Earthworms, mealworms, beetles, grubs, crickets, slugs, and snails are also excellent protein sources.
You should now have a better understanding of how to care for different varieties of Box Turtles after reading this article. Are you ready to go on this exciting journey with a brand-new box turtle?
